Underdogs Oxford tamed the angry River Thames to hand favourites Cambridge a decisive beating in the 152nd University Boat Race yester- day The Dark Blues belied their lack of Boat Race experience to power to an emphatic victory by 15 seconds and five lengths as Cambridge were virtually swamped by the white-force waves.

The winning time of 18mins 26secs was well short of the course record, but that was no surprise considering the tempestuous conditions.

Oxford handled them far better than their rivals, and their president, Canadian Olympic silver medallist Barney Williams, praised the tactics of coach Sean Bowden for that.

Williams, the only returning rower from last year's Oxford triumph, said: "We had a coach who kept us focused on the moment. That was the key to this crew.

"It was choppy, but we handled it really well. Coming into the headwind I thought we would have to tuck in and it would be survival rowing, but it really didn't seem to faze us."

Cambridge led briefly at the mile post, but Oxford took over at Hammersmith Bridge and forged ahead.

Williams continued: "We just got stuck into the headwind and powered along. At that point we had broken them, we had really exhausted their energy.

"There was a sense of just don't make any mistakes'.

"I don't know of many times when you can just row the last three minutes conservatively, but that's what we were doing bringing it home and savouring that after all the hard work."

Oxford, with Bastien Ripoll, the first Frenchman to row in the Boat Race, in the important stroke seat, were steered to victory by Seb Pearce.

The cox was only called up at four weeks' notice after originally being named in reserve boat Isis, and Williams said: "What a character. The last thing we heard before the start was him telling us to take a deep breath and sit up. Everyone did it at the same time."

Pearce made no apologies for swearing on the ITV broadcast when he was urging his crew to attack.

He said: "That was our point to win the race and that was the way we had to win it if they want the microphones in the boat that's what happens."